Portable ferris wheel



April 1, 1952 w. G. CATLETT 2,590,934

PORTABLE FERRIS WHEEL Filed Aug. 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR. WILL/AM G. 0471577,

BY 7f/ 7fimazzfflmwz*xiwwm A T702 NE YS.

April 1, 1952 w. e. CATLETT 2,590,934

PORTABLE FERRIS WHEEL Filed Aug. 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Shget 2 JNVENT0R., WILLIAM 6. 047157 3 47702 NE YS A ril 1, 1952 w. e. CATLETT PORTABLE FERRIS WHEEL s Sheet-Sheet :5

Filed Aug. 26, 1949 INVENTOR. CATL ETT WILL /AM 6.

Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

This invention relates to a Ferrisv wheel and mQ ZQ. particularly to a foldable portable amusement device of this; kind.

It is; an object of this invention to provide a.

Ferris wheel of the kind to be more particularly described hereinafter, which is supported on a mobile base having the; related parts. and sections hingedly connected together for swinging from a folded; or collapsed position to an extended, erect. and operable position. Locking members are hingedlyconnected to the: articulated; wheel spokes for; rigidly securing the, spokes; in their extended position as pivoted on the rotatable hub. Another object of; this invention is toprovide a Ferris wheel ofthis. kind which may be readily folded from,v a collapsed; position to; an extended operating; position, the folding sections.- being hingedly connected to the respective adjacent sections at all times, thereby appreciably expediting the assembly and disassembly ofthewheel. The speedyand eificient, conversion of the Ferris wheel results in a considerable saving; in; time and labor; generally acquired for amusement de-. vices; of this kind which are constantly. being moved from one location to another; as at c;arni-,- vals, fairs and thelike.

. With the, above and other objects in view, my invention. consists in the arrangement, combina:

tion and details of; construction, disclosed inthedrawings and specification, and then: more particularly-pointed, out; in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portable and collapsible I Ferris wheel constructed. according; to anembodiment of my invention, withthe tractor removed;

Figure2 is; atransverse section" taken on the line; 2-2- of Figure, 1; V

Figure 3 is, aside elevation, partlybroken away, showing the wheel spokes in their extended relation to the hub, about which they. are pivotally mounted;

Figure 4.. is. a side elevation, partly. broken away showing the wheel spokes in their. folded or collapsed position;

Figure 5, is a. side elevation, partly. broken away showing the partially extended; wheel spokes and the relationbetween a pair of spokes and. the rimrods-between adjacent spokes;

Figure 6 is a. perspective view of one of the wheel. rim rods-removed from theassembly;

Figure 7 is a: perspectiveview of the one. longitudinally-adjustable. wheel rim member removed from. the, assembly;

F ure 8 is a. side. elevation of theportable Ferris wheel showing the wheel in its completely folded or collapsed position on the trailer or mobile base frame;

Figure, 9 is a side elevation, partly broken away, showing the connection of the extended tower sections in full lines and the relation of therfolded tower sections in dotted lines;

Figure 10 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the connection between the tower sec.- tions and the engagement. of the tower-erection member with the upper tower section;

Figure 11. is a perspective view of one of the wheel spoke members removed from the as,.-.

sembly;

Figure 1 2 is a longitudinal section of oneend of one, of the spoke members showing. the. con.- nection. of the spoke member to the wheel. hub and showing the engagement of the locking member in its locking position;

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view of. the Ferris wheel, showing the position of the Ferris wheel and the erecting member with the Ferris wheel tower sections partially extended.

Referring, to the drawings, the numeral l5 designates; generally a portable and foldable Ferris wheel constructed according to an embodiment of' thisinvention. The Ferris wheel I5 is mounted on a mobile base or supporting member designated bythenumeral I6. which represents the frame of a trailer assembly to be connected. to a. suitable tractor H at the. forward end thereof. The foldable Ferris wheel. I5 is adapted to be conventionally folded on the frame. or trailer Hi to be transported about to a selected location by the tractor portion ll. When the Ferris wheel l5 has been located. at a positionwhere it will be extended and operated, the tractor I1 is disengaged from the forward end of the trailer [6. and the forward end of the trailer is will be suitably supported by jacks or bracing members l8, as clearly shown in Fig; ure. 1' of the drawings. The frame [6 includes a. lower longitudinally-extending portion [9 on which the Ferris wheel is to be supportedand an upwardly-offset forward portion 20 on which is mounted a fifth wheel 2| for engagement with the tractor H. An engine or motor 22 ismou-nted on the portion 20 for driving engagementwith thev Ferris wheel 15. in its extended andoperable position.

A tower 24 isfixedly supported on the support.- ing base or trailer l6 and is formed of a plurality of hingedly; connected sections. A lower section 2.5;,whichincludes a pair of transversely-spaced apart, vertically-extending lower tower mem- 3 here 26, is fixed to the base l6 and the upper tower section 21, which includes a pair of transverselyspaced-apart tower-forming members 28, is hingedly connected at its lower end to the upper end of the lower tower section 25.

A hinge member 29 is fixed between the adjacent ends of the related tower-forming sections 26 and 28 and includes a longitudinally-extending fiat plate 39 fixed to the upper ends of the lower tower sections 26 and extending forwardly and rearwardly beyond the side edges thereof. An upper plate 3| is fixed to the lower end of each of the upper tower-forming members 28 and extends slightly forwardly of the forward side thereof and slightly rearwardly of the rear side thereof, the forwardly-extending portions constituting the hinge-bearing section and a hinge or pivot pin 32 is adapted to be engaged through the forwardly-extending portions of the plates 39 and 3| of the respective tower sections 25 and 21. A locking pin 34 is adapted to be engaged through the rearwardly-extending portions of the correlated plates 30 and 3| of the respective tower sections 25 and 2'! for fixedly securing the tower sections in their extended positions. The locking pin or member 34 is removably engaged through the rearwardly-extending portions of the plates to provide for the free swinging of the upper tower section 21 forwardly about the pivot pin 32 when the locking member 34 is disengaged.

Erecting means 36 is connected to the lower end of the upper tower section 21 for raising the upper tower section into an erect position and is swingable from an overlying position, as clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, to an upwardly-extending position, as shown in the diagrammatic view of Figure 13. The erecting means 36 includes a bar 31 fixedly connected to a transverse hinge member 38. The hinge member 38 is rotatably supported in a pair of hinge bearings 39 carried by the opposite tower-forming members 28 of the upper tower sections 27 at the lower ends thereof. The hinge bearings 39 are fixed on the upper and rear side of the upper tower section 21 and the tower-erecting bar 3'! is adapted to be actuated and supported in its extended and erecting position by a flexible member 40 which is connected to the outer end of the erecting bar 31 and to the forward and upper end of the upper tower section 21.

A pair of forwardly-extending supporting bars or rods 4| are fixed at their rear ends to the upper ends of each of the lower tower sections 26 and at their forward ends to the frame or supporting member l9. Similar supporting brace 42 are fixed at their forward ends to the upper ends of the lower tower members 26 and extend downwardly and rearwardly to be fixedly secured to the lower end of the frame l9.

outwardly-extending wind members 44 are adapted to be fixedly secured to the tower 24 on each side of the wheel when the wheel is erected for suitably supporting the wheel |5 against swinging movement transversely of the tractor l6 and frame I9. The wind members 44 are removably engaged on the tower sections 26 and are supported above the ground by suitable jacks or bracing members 45.

A bearing 46 is fixedly mounted on the upper end of each of the upper tower members 21 for rotatably supporting the axle 41 of the wheel 49 to be rotatably supported between the transversely-spaced-apart tower sections '24. The axle 41 is formed with a collar 48 on the extreme outer ends thereof which is rotatably engageable with the outer surface of the bearing members 46 on the outer sides of the tower members 24 for holding the wheel section 49 against transverse sliding movement relative to the tower member for providing for the suitable rotation of the Wheel l5 therebetween.

The wheel sections 49 which are cooperatively rotatable between the tower members 24 are formed with a central hub 59 having a heavy flange 5| at the opposite sides or ends thereof. Each of the wheel sections 49 is identically formed and, therefore, only one will be described in detail. The flanges 5| are annular in configuration engaging about the periphery of the central portion 52 of the hub and are formed for receiving the inner ends of the radially-extending wheel spokes 54.

One wheel spoke is designed as the master spoke and is fixedly secured at its inner end to the flange 5| on one side of the hub 50. The fixed or master spoke 55 is fixed at one end to the hub 59 and is rigid along the entire length thereof forming the master or base portion of the wheel 49. The other spokes 54 are articulated and certain of them are formed in different manners to provide for the use and operation of the folding wheel to be described more particularly hereinafter.

Certain of the articulated spokes 54 are formed with a single hinge connection to the hub 50, while other of the spokes 54 are formed with a double hinge connection to provide for the folding arrangement of the spokes in the collapsed or folded position of the Ferris wheel I5. The wheel spokes 58 immediately adjacent the fixed spoke 55 on the opposite sides thereof are formed with a short section 56 which is fixed at its inner end to the flange 5| and an outer section 51 which is pivotally connected to the outer end of the inner section 56. Spokes 59 are hingedly connected to the hub 50 and radiate outwardly therefrom in spaced circumferential fashion from the fixed spoke 54. The spokes 59 are formed in substantially the same manner as the hinged wheel spokes 58 described above, but the inner section 69 of each wheel spoke 59 is slightly longer than the inner section 56 of the spokes 58 and the outer section 6| of the spokes 59 is slightly shorter than the outer section 51 of the spokes 58. The total length of the spokes 59, however, is exactly the same as the total length of the spokes 58 and 55.

Moving clockwise from the fixed spoke 54 and counterclockwise therefrom the next rearward spokes 62, are formed in the same manner as the spokes 58 and 59 and the inner section of the spokes 62 is slightly longer than the inner sections of the adjacent spokes 59, while the outer section of the spokes 62 is slightly shorter than the outer section of the spoke 59. The total length of the spokes 62 will, of course, be the same as the total length of the other spokes of the wheel 49. The spokes 64 adjacent the spokes 62 are formed with three sections, having an inner section 65 fixed to the hub 50, an intermediate section 66 hingedly connected to the outer end of the fixed inner section 65, and an extreme outer end section 61 hingedly connected to the outer end of the intermediate link or section.

66. A similar spoke 68 is mounted on the hub 50 adjacent each of the spokes 64 and is formed with three sections, the innermost section being fixed to the hub 59 and formed with a pivot pin on which an elongated intermediate link or section 69 is hingedly connected. An outer section 10 is hingedly connected to. the. outer end of the intermediate link 69, the total length of the spoke 98 being the same as the total length of the other spokes, and the intermediate link 69 being slightly longer than the intermediate link 99 of the adjacent double-hinged spoke. 6.4. The spoke 'l.I., diametrically opposed to the rigid spoke. or master spoke 55, is formed between the doubleehinged spokes 68 and has an innermost section lZ, fixed to the hub 59* and slightly longer than the length of the innermost section 68. An elongated intermediate link 14 in hingedly connected to the outer end of the section 1 2 and the outer end portion or section of: the spoke H ishingedly connected to the outer end of the, intermediate link 14, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of thedrawings. The formation and disposition ofthe various spokes 54, as. described above, provide for the folding ofthe spokes about the hub 59 into a mutually overlying adjacent relation, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, and swing able about their respective pivot points toan outwardly-extended orerected position, as clearly shown in Figures L and 3 of: the drawings.

As seen in Figure ll, each of the hingedly-connee-ted links 54 is U-shaped in configuration for defining a longitudinally-extending channel 79 and a longitudinall-y-extending locking bar- TI- is hingedlyconnected to the outermost section of each of thespokes 54 and is engageable in the channel 1-6 inwardly of the. spoke for fixedly securing the pivotally-connected sections in their extended pivoted position. The locking bar- H is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 18 to the outermost section of each of the hinge spokes 54 and is adapted to be seatedin the channel-sec tion 56 of each of the spoke sections. An aperture. I9 is formed in the-outer end of the locking bar Ft and a locking bolt; 80- is adapted to be engagedthrough the aperture; 13 and through a registering aperture in the innermost section of eachof; the spokes 54 to be secured therein by a nut 8'I, whereby the spokes 54' will be secured in their extended position and held against pivotal movement when the locking bar 1-1 is, fixedly s e cured atthe end thereof-- opposite from the pivot pin-I8-.

Means 82 is proyidedfor forming the rim, of the wheel sections and for securing the spokes in circumferential spaced; relation, the means being hingedly connected between adjacent wheel SPQ eS, :4 nd ol ab eto, r e or heIQ din .5 16, pok s iflab ntthe ub h means, 2,,

esisee fin F gure, fil ncl desapair or n itudill extending, U -'shaped links or rim members 1 1.3 n d connected ge e a h ir adjacent inner ends and hingedly connected at their, outer ends to adjacent spokes 54. As shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, locking means 86 is provided and is interposedin the rim members, he m a s. m ne. a e o he etwee a pair of adjoining spokes and being adjustable along the length thereof to provide for the compensationot theslack betweenthe pivot connectionsofthe other circumferentially-arrangedrim m mbr ilk he k ng means 86 is f rmed of am t i ksh ned. sec ieiiet-li and 88 onne een We urnbuc .9- Q r w; 9 i firslsllt permicide, one o he i e tions as he ei 9n awh e a. simi r pp sitelyer esigdrs rew i sfixedr c n e i the jacent section of the adjacent rim member 81 and a threaded nut element 92 is engaged on the confronting screws 90 and 9I to provide for the turnbuckle type of adjustment of the link 86. In

,tower section 25.

the use and operation of the portable and fold-. able Ferris wheel [5, the Ferris wheel is initially folded to. a position, as, clearly shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, with all of the spoke sections 84. in their folded and overlying relation to. each other with the upper tower section 21 pivotally folded to its forwardly-extendingposition pivoted on the upper end of" the lower tower section 24. The upper or forward end of the upper tower section 21: is adapted to be: rested on a cradle 9.4 which is supported on the forward end' of the trailer It and frame I19; immediately behind the motor 22. The rear ends of the folded spokes 54 are supported above the frame I9 by a U;-shaped supporting member 95, which, is hingedly connected" at its upper end to. a bracket or car 96' on the. forward side of the upper endof the lower The supporting member 95 includes a pair of vertically-extending side. arms 91 connected together at their lower endsby a transverse bar 98, and the lowermost of the spoke members, 5.41s adapted to. be seated at its rear end on the; transverse member 98. The erecting member 36 is disposed in a forwardly-extending position overlying the uppermost of; the spokes 54 and is free to be pivoted upwardly and outwardly for erecting the Ferris wheel I5.

Upon swinging of the erecting member 36' up.- wardly to a position perpendicular to the upper tower member 21, the erecting member 29 is re strai'nedagainst further relative movement by the flexible member 40 which is fixed at its 0D? posite ends to the erecting member 36 and. to. the upper end of the, upper tower; section 21 The cable 99, fixed at one end to' they erecting: mem, ber 36, is trained; downwardly and forwardly b ut, a. lle I00, which is sup orted on; the rear-endofthe frame I9 andisdi-rected forwardlyfor engagement with a suitable winding drum andpower means, not shown in the drawings. Upon tensioning of the cable 99, the erecting member 36 is swung upwardly about the pivot pin 32, carrying with it the folded wheel spokes 54. When the upper tower section 21 is positioned in, alignment with the lower tower section 25, the locking member 34 is engaged through the rear end of the plates and 3;-I forfixingthe tower 24' in its extended position. At this; time the erectingmember 3.9 will be disengaged from theuppertower section 21 and stored in a suitable place on the trailer I6. The spoke-confining member 95. will then be removed from its engagement with the. brackets 96 carried by the. upper ends. of the lower tower sections 25 and stored away with the erecting member 36.

The, rim members 82 are. then extended for swinging the respective radial spoke sections 54' to a circumferentially-spacedeapart position, as clearly-shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, and the locking bars TI pivotally carried by the spokes 54 are engaged in the channels I6 of the respective spokes and secured in place by the locking bolt forfixedly securing the respective spoke sections in aligned extended position. The wheel sections 49 are transversely spaced apart, at all times, by brace bars I05, as seen in Figure 2, with diagonal braces I96 connecting the bars. The braces and bars do notinterfere with the folding ofthe spokes, since as seen in Figure 5 the rim sections which are connected by the bars, can fold into a collapsed position, with the spokes overlying the fixed spoke. With the wheels 49 in their fully-extended positions, the seats I09 are swingably connected between the transversely-spaced-apart wheels 49 on the outer ends of the radially-extending spokes 54. The seats 10 are supported in a substantially conventional manner and then the guy wires Ifll are fixed or connected between the extreme upper ends of the upper tower sections and the outer ends of the frame I 9 for supporting the tower 24 against longitudinal movement on the trailer [6 during the operation of the wheels 49. The Ferris wheel I is actuated in a substantially conventional manner by a winding drum I02 having wound thereabout a suitable cable I04 which is engaged about the periphery of the wheels 49 in a conventional manner to effect the rotation of the wheels 49. 7

The disassembly of the Ferris wheel I5 is accomplished by a procedure exactly reverse from the procedure of erection and the Ferris wheel 15 will then be folded from its extended position, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, to its fully retracted or folded position, as clearly shown in Figure 8 of the drawings.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable Ferris wheel, a mobile frame, a pair of vertical towers mounted on said frame in laterally spaced relation to each other across the frame, said towers comprisinglower sections fixed on said frame and upper sections hinged on the upper ends of the lower sections to swing from reclining horizontal positions to vertical erect positions in vertical alignment with the lower sections, locking means acting between the lower and upper tower sections for locking the upper sections in erect position on the lower sections, bearings on'the upper ends of the upper sections, an axle extending between the upper ends of the upper sections and supportably engaged with the bearings, a hub journaled on said axle between the towers, and a wheel comprising a main spoke assembly comprising a spoke radiating from said hub and fixed to .extend rigidly therefrom, a plurality of secondary spoke assemblies connected-to said hub at equally circumferentially spaced points around the hub from said main spoke, each of said secondary spokes comprising an inner'spoke section having its radially inward end pivoted on the hub on an axis extending parallel to the axis of the hub whereby the secondary spokes can be swung from a normal radial relation to the hub to folded positions in which adjacent spokes are alongside of each other and extend along said main spoke assembly, each of said secondary spokes having an outer spoke section, means pivotally connecting the outer spoke section to the inner spoke section to swing on an axis parallel to the axis of the hub from a normal position in longitudinal alignment with the inner spoke section to a folded position in which the outer spoke sections are disposed alongside of each other in substantially right angular relationship to the inner spoke sections, first locking means for locking the inner and outer spoke sections in longitudinal alignment with each other, folding link members extending between the radially outward ends of the outer sections of adjacent spokes, said folding link members comprising links having inner ends pivoted together and outer ends pivoted to the radially outward ends of the outer spoke sections, second locking means for locking the links in longitudinal alignment with each other so as to hold adjacent spokes spread away from each other and in radial relation to said hub.

2. In a portable Ferris wheel, a mobile frame, a pair of vertical towers mountedon said frame in laterally spaced relation to each other across the frame, said towers comprising lower sections fixed on said frame and upper sections hinged on the upper ends of the lower sections to swing from reclining horizontal positions to vertical erect positions in vertical alignment with the lower sections, locking means acting between the lower and upper. tower sections for locking the upper sections in erect position on the lower sections, bearings on the upper ends of the upper sections, an axle extending between the upper ends of the upper sections and supportably engaged with the bearings, a hub journaled on said axle between the towers, and a wheel comprising a main spoke assembly comprising a spoke radiating from said hub and fixed to extend rigidly therefrom, a plurality of secondary spoke assemblies connected to said hub at equally circumferentially spaced points around the hub from said main spoke, each of said secondary spokes comprising an inner spoke section having its radially inward end pivoted on the hub on an axis extending parallel to the axis of the hub whereby the secondary spokes can be swung from a normal radial relation to the hub to folded positions in which adjacent spokes are alongside of each other and extend along said main spoke assembly, each of said secondary spokes having an outer spoke section, means pivotally connecting the outer spoke section to the inner spoke section to swing on an axis parallel to the axis of the hub from a normal position in longitudinal align ment with the inner spoke section to a folded .position in which the outer spoke sections are disposed alongside of each other in substantially right angular relationship to the inner spoke sections, first locking means for locking the inner and outer spoke sections in longitudinal alignment with each other, folding link members extending between the radially outward ends of the outer sections of adjacent spokes, said folding link members comprising links having inner ends pivoted together and outer ends pivoted to the radially outward ends of the outer spoke sections, second locking means for locking the links in longitudinal alignment with each other so as to hold adjacent spokes spread away from each other and in radial relation to said hub, said wheel having a contractible member extending between and connected to two adjacent spokes serving to contract the adjacent spokes toward each other so as to tension the outer spokes in spread relation to each other.

WILLIAM G. CATLETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 669,621 Conderman Mar. 12, 1901 865,584 Fulton Sept. 10, 1907 1,203,453 Armitage Oct. 31, 1916 1,262,687 Miller Apr. 16, 1918 1,263,370 Brundage Apr. 23, 1918 1,397,938 Unger et al Nov. 22, 1921 

